Imaging of pregnancy-associated breast cancer

• Published in: Radiology Vol. 191; no. 1; p. 245
• Main Authors: Liberman, L, Giess, C S, Dershaw, D D, Deutch, B M, Petrek, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-1994
• Subjects: Adult; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mammography; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Ultrasonography, Mammary
• ISSN: 0033-8419
• DOI: 10.1148/radiology.191.1.8134581

To assess the use of mammography in diagnosis of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC).
A retrospective review of medical records between 1973 and 1993 was performed in 85 women with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1 year after pregnancy. In 21 of these women, mammography was performed before biopsy; the mammographic findings in this study group, which had 23 cases of invasive carcinoma, were reviewed for signs of malignancy. Breast sonography was performed in six cases in five women; sonographic findings were also reviewed.
Mammographic findings were present in 18 of 23 cases (78%), including mass (n = 13) (nine cases with calcification), suspicious calcifications (n = 4), and diffusely increased parenchymal density (n = 1). Breast sonography revealed focal solid mass in six of six cases. Axillary lymph node metastases occurred in 15 of 23 cases (65%). Although symptoms occurred before or during pregnancy in 12 cases (52%), PABC was diagnosed after pregnancy in 19 cases (83%).
PABC is often advanced at diagnosis and associated with poor prognosis. Breast imaging studies usually demonstrate focal findings due to clinically evident PABC.